Around Town, July 21, 2014

Bethesda Apostolic Faith Church is scheduled to have a church barbecue 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, 1822 Canal St. Donation is $10 per person. Menu consists of pork ribs or chicken. Call (209) 489-4128 to order or for more information.

Bethesda Apostolic Faith Church is scheduled to have a church barbecue 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, 1822 Canal St. Donation is $10 per person. Menu consists of pork ribs or chicken. Call (209) 489-4128 to order or for more information.

Scholarship is offered

The Horatio Alger Cortopassi Family Foundation is offering vocational scholarships for community college students. The deadline is Friday. Students can get $2,500 per semester, up to a maximum of $10,000. Applicants must live in Merced, Stanislaus, Madera or San Joaquin counties; be no older than 25; demonstrate financial need with a financial-aid award letter; and be a high school graduate or have a GED equivalent. For more information and to apply online, go to www.horatioalger.org/scholarships/certificateprogram.

Dance at Club Mercedes

The Fresno band Saboris is scheduled to play from 7-10 p.m. Saturday at Club Mercedes, 569 W. Ninth St. Doors open at 6 p.m. No-host beverage bar and food bar will be available. Price is $10 per person. You must be age 21 or older to attend. For more information, call (209) 383-9906.

Dog obedience class

A beginning dog obedience class will start July 29 at 6 p.m. at Applegate Park in Merced. The class teaches basic obedience such as sit, down, stay and walking on a loose leash. It is also a canine good-citizen class, which will test a dog’s manners. The instructors have more than 20 years’ experience training dogs. The six-week class costs $70, or $50 for dogs from a shelter or rescue organization. Call 631-0484 or email to gwynmick@gmail.com.

Pasta fundraiser

A drive-thru pasta fundraiser to benefit 15-year-old cancer patient Kyle Begin is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. July 30 at the Italo-American Lodge, 1351 W 18th St. in Merced. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children at the door.

Atwater VFW assistance

Atwater’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9946 has been serving the needs of veterans and their families for more than 62 years and welcomes any veteran whose service included combat or combat operations. We serve our veterans and our city through several programs. The post can assist veterans in receiving benefits connected to their service. The VFW is at 1390 Broadway Ave. Call (209) 358-7224 for more information.

Merced County’s branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness holds bi-weekly support groups for families affected by serious mental illness. For more information, call (209) 381-6844 and a volunteer will contact you within 48 hours.

Aid for Vietnam veterans

The local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 0691 welcomes new members. To qualify, a person must have served during the Vietnam War era. For more information, call (209) 381-0451 or visit 450 W. 21st St. in Merced.

Store to hold food drive

Merced Grocery Outlet, 1125 W. Main St., is holding its third annual Independence from Hunger food drive. The store is encouraging customers to donate food and cash to support Merced Catholic Charities’ anti-poverty campaign. Participants can look for specially marked foods that Catholic Charities has identified as needed by local families. The items can be purchased and put in a collection bin at the front of the store. Customers can also make a cash donation at the register. All money raised will go directly to Catholic Charities. For more information, visit groceryoutlet.com/Merced-CA.